Study design: Results of single-stage anterior autogenous bone grafting and instrumentation for spinal tuberculosis were reported.
Objective: To determine the efficacy of anterior instrumentation following radical debridement and autogenous bone grafting in patients with spinal tuberculosis over a 3-year period at a single institution.
Summary of background data: Patients with spinal tuberculosis have been not always successfully treated by radical debridement and bone grafting with or without supplementary posterior instrumentation and fusion, although most surgeons use posterior instrumentation to support anterior strut grafts.
Methods: In this prospective study, the authors evaluated 39 patients (22 male and 17 female; average age, 48 years) with spinal tuberculosis, who underwent single-stage anterior radical debridement, autogenous bone grafting, and instrumentation. The average follow-up period was 39.9 months (range, 30-54 months).
Results: A solid fusion was achieved in all cases; there were 2 cases of draining fistula formation. Of all 28 patients with preoperative kyphosis, the deformity was corrected from an average of 13.5 degrees on admission to an average of 1.9 degrees after surgery. No significant loss of deformity correction was noted in these patients. There was no other recurrence of the tuberculous infection.
Conclusions: The authors think that the single-stage anterior autogenous bone grafting and instrumentation are a safe and effective method in the surgical management of spinal tuberculosis.